Mary Ann Erickson Is New President-Elect for State Society on Aging

Associate Professor Mary Ann Erickson, chair of the Department of Aging Studies at Ithaca College, has been elected president-elect of the State Society on Aging of New York. Erickson will serve as president-elect for the 2015 calendar year and as president for 2016. The State Society on Aging of New York is an interdisciplinary membership society that seeks to improve the quality of life for older New Yorkers through education, research, service, and advocacy.

Erickson joined Ithaca College in 2000. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Human Development from Cornell University, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. Congratulations, Mary Ann! 

All workshops will be held at the Country Inn and Suites, on Route 96B just south of the College. REGISTER HERE

Hearing Loss in Older People
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Presenter: Amy Rominger, Au.D, CCC-A, FAAA, Clinical Asst. Professor, Dept. of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Ithaca College

This workshop will present the causes and psychosocial impact of hearing loss, as well as the most current diagnostic and remediation strategies used to combat hearing disorders in older people. Practical tips for interacting with people with hearing loss will be incorporated throughout the workshop.

Life Review of Generative Contributions
Monday, Dec. 1, 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Presenter: Myra Sabir, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Dept. of Human Development, State University of NY-Binghamton

Reminiscence about ways older adults have made significant contributions to society may be one of their most powerful developmental needs. Reminiscence work around generative stories can lead to late-life rebirth, revitalization, and mitigate the fear of death. This workshop will focus on ways to assist older adults in completing a life review of their generative contributions.

This annual intergenerational event, sponsored by the IC student organization AGES (Aging and Gerontology Education Society), will be held Friday, Nov. 7, 6:30-8:30 pm in Emerson Suites on the Ithaca College campus. All local older adults and their families are invited to join IC students for a night of live music, dancing, refreshments, and great conversation. No registration is necessary. Questions? Call 607-274-1965.

 

John Krout, professor emeritus in gerontology and the founding director of the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute, has co-edited a new text, Aging in Rural Places: Programs, Policies, and Professional Practice, published by Springer. Other co-editors are Kristina Hash Ph.D., MSW, and Elaine Jurkowski MSW.  

 

According to the Springer website:

"Research documents that rural elders are poorer, live in less adequate housing, and have far fewer health and service options available to them than their urban counterparts, yet there is a critical lack of current and detailed information on the problems facing rural elders and on the professional practices that serve this population. This text fills this gap by introducing readers to rural areas and their residents and discussing the issues, programs, and policies designed to meet their needs. Through a multidisciplinary lens, it examines and defines specific competencies required for successful work with older adults and their families in these communities."

Friday, Nov. 21, 9:00 am-3:00 pm at the
Tompkins County Public Library

To register call David Bulkley, The Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, 607-273-9250

 

This annual conference will focus on social media and the role it plays in therapeutic settings. The day will include workshops, a panel discussion, and an interactive theatre piece by the Community Players from Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services. A book talk will conclude the conference. As always, this community event will be free, but registration is requested.

 

Sponsors: Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services; Family and Children's Service of Ithaca; Finger Lakes Independence Center; FLGEC at Ithaca College Gerontology Institute; Longview; The Mental Health Association in Tompkins County; the Multicultural Resource Center; Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service; Tompkins County Mental Health Department; Tompkins County Office for the Aging; and the Tompkins County Public Library.

This is the Gerontology Institute's last newsletter for 2014. We'll resume again in January 2015. Until then, make sure to check us out on Facebook as we continue to post articles and notes of interest!

The Ithaca College Gerontology Institute provides high quality education to students and professionals, empowering them to positively impact the lives of older people.